Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or San Carlos de Bariloche?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Carlos de Bariloche or San Pedro de Atacama?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Carlos de Bariloche and San Pedro de Atacama. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Carlos de Bariloche or San Pedro de Atacama?
San Carlos de Bariloche
Set in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in Argentina, San Carlos de Bariloche is the biggest city in the Lake District. Bariloche is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and trekking, swimming, fishing and horseback riding in the summertime.
No matter the time of year, there is something for everyone in Bariloche. Skiing season begins from June to October while fishing season is from November to April. Summer is from December to March, but visiting during low seasons (Spring in October to December and Autumn in late-April to mid-June) also has its benefits when it comes to saving cash and avoiding crowds.
Check out our ultimate guide to Hiking in Patagonia.
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Argentina, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Argentina, The Best Tours for Seniors to Chile, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile.
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San Carlos de Bariloche Prices
Argentina PricesSan Pedro de Atacama Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Carlos de Bariloche $86San Pedro de Atacama $69
The average daily cost (per person) in San Carlos de Bariloche is $86, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $69. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Carlos de Bariloche and San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Carlos de Bariloche $70San Pedro de Atacama $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Carlos de Bariloche $140San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in San Carlos de Bariloche and San Pedro de Atacama
Looking for a hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche or San Pedro de Atacama? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Carlos de Bariloche Hotel Prices and San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Carlos de Bariloche $2.77San Pedro de Atacama $9.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Carlos de Bariloche:
- Shared Transfer Airport Bariloche Downtown : $25
- Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bariloche Airport: $29
- Private Transfer from Villa Mascardi to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $80
- Private Transfer from Tom Wesley to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Playa Bonita to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Pampa Linda to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $200
- Private Transfer from Lago Moreno to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from Hotel Tronador to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $179
- Private Transfer from Hotel Llao Llao to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $144
- Private Transfer from Hotel Catedral to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $50
- Private Transfer from El Casco Art Hotel to Bariloche (BRC) Airport: $60
- Private Transfer from Downtown Bariloche to the Airport: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama
Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- To/From El Loa Airport: San Pedro de Atacama Shared Transfer: $28
- Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29
- Calama Airport: Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $38
- TRANSFER TO PURITAMA HOT SPRINGS: $40
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
- Etno-Stargazing Tour with Transfer: $40
- Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $44
- Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour: $45
- Astronomical Tour in San Pedro de Atacama includes transfer, photo, and cocktail.: $53
- Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
- Atacama Airport Private Transfer: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into San Carlos de Bariloche or San Pedro de Atacama?
Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama and San Carlos de Bariloche change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySan Carlos de Bariloche $6.11San Pedro de Atacama $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Carlos de Bariloche.
- Bariloche: Snowmobile ride with dinner 4 steps: $537
Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Empanadas$1.26
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Lunch$10
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Dinner$11
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Drink$0.94
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Empanada$5.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Local haute cuisine tasting menu dinner: $135
- Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Carlos de Bariloche $33San Pedro de Atacama $21
Tours and Activities in San Carlos de Bariloche
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Carlos de Bariloche are as follows:
- 2-Day Bariloche Experience with Optional Airfare: $430
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of the Small Circuit: $90
- Adventure to Cerro Tronador and Black Ventisquero from Bariloche: $140
- Bariloche Chocolate Tour: Patagonian Flavors on Foot: $52
- Bariloche Craft Beer Sensory Experience: $285
- Bariloche Horseback Riding & Traditional Argentine Barbecue Tour: $204
- Bariloche San Martin de los Andes and Seven Lakes Road Tour: $135
- Bariloche Tour Route of the 7 Lakes to San Martin de los Andes : $80
- Bariloche: Beer Tour through 3 breweries: $240
- Bariloche: Boat Tour to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Forest: $120
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral Tour: $36
- Bariloche: Cerro Catedral guided tour: $43
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Sand Boarding$56
Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama
For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $30
- Shared Moon Valley Tour: $32
- Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $35
- Astronomical Guided Tour in San Pedro: $35
- Half-Day Tour to Laguna Cejar: $35
- Stargazing Experience: $35
- Stargazing Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $36
- Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert: $36
- Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $37
- Rainbow Valley Tour + Petroglyphs (Yerbas Buenas): $37
- Shared Archaeological Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $38
- Moon Valley Tour: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Carlos de Bariloche $8.76San Pedro de Atacama $4.93
Sample the Local Flavors in San Carlos de Bariloche
Also in San Carlos de Bariloche, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bariloche: Patagonian Experience wine tasting: $95
- Bariloche: Wine Tasting Winehouse Experience: $110
- Patagonian WineHouse in Bariloche: Cheese and Wine Tasting: $125
- Bariloche: Bar Crawl. Patagonian Bar Crawl: $160
Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:
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Alcohol$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Carlos de Bariloche and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that San Carlos de Bariloche is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro de Atacama much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro de Atacama would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro de Atacama and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Carlos de Bariloche would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Carlos de Bariloche than you might in San Pedro de Atacama.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Carlos de Bariloche Expensive? and Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Carlos de Bariloche or San Pedro de Atacama?
San Carlos de Bariloche has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of San Carlos de Bariloche and San Pedro de Atacama, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.